Books
  • Lines of Charm: Brilliant And Irreverent Quotes, Notes, And Anecdotes from Golf's Golden Age Architects
    Lines of Charm: Brilliant And Irreverent Quotes, Notes, And Anecdotes from Golf's Golden Age Architects
  • The Future of Golf: How Golf Lost Its Way and How to Get It Back
    The Future of Golf: How Golf Lost Its Way and How to Get It Back
    by Geoff Shackelford
  • Grounds for Golf: The History and Fundamentals of Golf Course Design
    Grounds for Golf: The History and Fundamentals of Golf Course Design
    by Geoff Shackelford
  • The Art of Golf Design
    The Art of Golf Design
    by Michael Miller, Geoff Shackelford
  • Alister MacKenzie's Cypress Point Club
    Alister MacKenzie's Cypress Point Club
    by Geoff Shackelford
  • The Golden Age of Golf Design
    The Golden Age of Golf Design
    by Geoff Shackelford
  • The Good Doctor Returns: A Novel
    The Good Doctor Returns: A Novel
    by Geoff Shackelford
  • Masters of the Links: Essays on the Art of Golf and Course Design
    Masters of the Links: Essays on the Art of Golf and Course Design
  • The Captain: George C. Thomas Jr. and His Golf Architecture
    The Captain: George C. Thomas Jr. and His Golf Architecture
    by Geoff Shackelford
  • The Riviera Country Club: A Definitive History
    The Riviera Country Club: A Definitive History
    by Geoff Shackelford
Current Reading
  • Fifty More Places to Play Golf Before You Die: Golf Experts Share the World's Greatest Destinations (Fifty Places Series)
    Fifty More Places to Play Golf Before You Die: Golf Experts Share the World's Greatest Destinations (Fifty Places Series)
    by Chris Santella

    Follow up includes yours truly nominating Rustic Canyon. Shocking, I know.

  • Sports Illustrated The Golf Book
    Sports Illustrated The Golf Book
    by Editors of Sports Illustrated
  • Planet Golf USA: The Definitive Reference to Great Golf Courses in America
    Planet Golf USA: The Definitive Reference to Great Golf Courses in America
    by Darius Oliver

    The highly anticipated second volume comes to America for more design analysis and stunning photography.

  • St Andrews Golf Links: Six Centuries of Golf
    St Andrews Golf Links: Six Centuries of Golf
    by Tom Jarrett, Peter Mason

    Another St. Andrews book to warm us up for the 2010 Open.

  • Swinley Forest Golf Club
    Swinley Forest Golf Club
    by Nicholas Courtney
  • Jenkins at the Majors: Sixty Years of the World's Best Golf Writing, from Hogan to Tiger
    Jenkins at the Majors: Sixty Years of the World's Best Golf Writing, from Hogan to Tiger
    by Dan Jenkins
  • The Leaderboard: Conversations on Golf and Life
    The Leaderboard: Conversations on Golf and Life
    by Amy Alcott


  • The 19th Hole: Architecture of the Golf Clubhouse
    The 19th Hole: Architecture of the Golf Clubhouse
    by Richard Diedrich

    SI Golf Plus calls this the #1 golf book of 2008.

  • World Atlas of Golf: The Greatest Courses and How They are Played
    World Atlas of Golf: The Greatest Courses and How They are Played
    by Mark Rowlinson

    New and updated, including contributions from Ran Morrissett and Daniel Wexler.

  • Golf in America (Sport and Society)
    Golf in America (Sport and Society)
    by George B. Kirsch


    Fresh and well researched perspective on the history of golf in America

  • Follow the Roar: Tailing Tiger for All 604 Holes of His Most Spectacular Season
    Follow the Roar: Tailing Tiger for All 604 Holes of His Most Spectacular Season
    by Bob Smiley
  • Pebble Beach: The Official Golf History
    Pebble Beach: The Official Golf History
    by Neal Hotelling
  • Free: The Future of a Radical Price
    Free: The Future of a Radical Price
    by Chris Anderson
Classics
  • The Book Of Golfers: A Biographical History Of The Royal & Ancient Game
    The Book Of Golfers: A Biographical History Of The Royal & Ancient Game
    by Daniel Wexler


  • A Season In Dornoch: Golf and Life in the Scottish Highlands
    A Season In Dornoch: Golf and Life in the Scottish Highlands
    by Lorne Ruberstein

    A summer in Dornoch.

  • Emerald Gems:The Links of Ireland
    Emerald Gems:The Links of Ireland
    by Laurence Casey Lambrecht

    Beautiful images of the classic Irish links.

  • Golf Architecture in America: Its Strategy and Construction
    Golf Architecture in America: Its Strategy and Construction
    by Geo. C. Thomas
  • The Spirit of St. Andrews
    The Spirit of St. Andrews
    by Alister MacKenzie
  • Club Life: The Games Golfers Play
    Club Life: The Games Golfers Play
    by John Steinbreder
  • Discovering Donald Ross: The Architect and his Golf Courses
    Discovering Donald Ross: The Architect and his Golf Courses
    by Bradley S. Klein
  • Evangelist of Golf: The Story of Charles Blair MacDonald
    Evangelist of Golf: The Story of Charles Blair MacDonald
    by George Bahto
  • The Course Beautiful : A Collection of Original Articles and Photographs on Golf Course Design
    The Course Beautiful : A Collection of Original Articles and Photographs on Golf Course Design
    Treewolf Prod
  • Reminiscences Of The Links
    Reminiscences Of The Links
    by Albert Warren Tillinghast, Richard C. Wolffe, Robert S. Trebus, Stuart F. Wolffe
  • Gleanings from the Wayside
    Gleanings from the Wayside
    by Albert Warren Tillinghast
  • The Missing Links: America's Greatest Lost Golf Courses & Holes
    The Missing Links: America's Greatest Lost Golf Courses & Holes
    by Daniel Wexler
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« Kelly T And Connecticut Weather ** | Main | "It's unfortunate that golf is somehow made to be the whipping boy for this economic malaise." »
Friday
13Feb2009

LPGA's L.A. Options

Reader Ha asked what my venue of choice would be for the LPGA in L.A. now that they will be returning. Amazingly, Carolyn Bivens has still not called, but just in case she's reading, I offer my recommendations.

I honestly believe each of these venues could work, assuming an improvements in maintenance and cooperation from their management (in the case of the public courses). Sure, that's a big if since I'm naming some notoriously difficult places to deal with. However, the LPGA has played at a number of private venues and upscale daily fees, with minimal fan interest while the Champions Tour drew well here when they played at Rancho. In other words, the daily fee golfers are your friends, CB. (That's assuming you want fans and volunteers).

13th hole bunker, captured yesterday (click to enlarge)Rustic Canyon - my obvious bias notwithstanding... Pros: parking at nearby Moorpark College, easy freeway access, interesting design with ground game emphasis, would look attractive on TV. Cons: attendance could be an issue in less populated area, though still within short distance of major population base, small clubhouse, management may not appreciate benefits of hosting LPGA.

Santa Anita - Pros: parking at Santa Anita race track next door and at large park nearby, great freeway access, fun/playable design that just needs a little sprucing up to become something truly special, solid population base nearby likely to be engaged (see Rose Parade), easy spectator walk; Cons: would not be visually dramatic on television, small clubhouse).Santa Anita's 14th hole. Wild fairway contours would create challenge for the world's best female golfers. (Click to enlarge)

Griffith Park (composite course of Harding/Wilson) Pros: plenty of parking at LA Zoo with great freeway access; Cons: designs rundown, maintenance needs major work, clubhouse run down, horrible range, dealing with city of LA...okay it's a total mess but I can dream can't I?

Rancho Park Pros: only existing course on the planet to have hosted LPGA, PGA and Champions, quirky design great for spectating, unique location in city center; Cons: conditioning, traffic, lack of tent space, horrible range, dealing with city of LA.

Wilshire CC Pros: excellent venue that has hosted LA Opens and Champions Tour and will be unveiling new Kyle Phillips restoration/renovation of bunkers in 2010, newly renovated clubhouse, great location in city center and near heart of primary Korean population base; Cons: does membership want the hassle? Parking and traffic a pain.

 

 

 

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Reader Comments (12)

I am not sure parking is an issue. How many people will go to an LPGA event in Los Angeles in 2010? There are just too many other options for people's time.

The LPGA could return to Oakmont Country Club in Glendale, or go to Brookside in Pasadena.

I guess it depends on which members want to host the tournament. The course does not have to be interesting or have lots of parking. For example, look at the course they play the Longs Challenge at.

None of the courses in Los Angeles need the publicity of hosting an LPGA event except the new Palmer course in Santa Clarita, Los Valles. (It may be on hold now)

I would love to see the LPGA at Virgina CC, Bel Air CC, Palos Verde GC.
02.13.2009 | Unregistered CommenterScott
Scott,
Brookside would be great too. Obviously I'd like to see it go to a public course because I think you'll get more spectator interest than when they host at a country club.

Oakmont is going under the knife and will be out of commission for 2010 I believe, but might be available beyond that.
02.13.2009 | Registered CommenterGeoff
I may be going way out on a limb, but what about Malibu CC? A very fun, beautiful course, good for spectators with the exception of a couple holes. Very nice facilities and not too out of the way(accessible by both 101 and the PCH).
02.13.2009 | Unregistered Commentermatt
Hillcrest or Brentwood for the food.
02.14.2009 | Unregistered CommenterSteven T.
Obviously I'm partial to both Rustic and Santa Anita. I think Geoff is on to something there, if they could spruce the course up with Geoff, Gil, Jim and of course--with me adding this in there, MYSELF! to add some comedy to the mix, well it would be a grand slam...

Another positive for Rustic would be that the players could only go every night to Cafe' Firenze, which may be the best Italian restaurant I've ever been too, but of course, The Derby near Santa Anita isn't bad either!
I also forgot to add that Long Beach Recreation Park might be a REALLY good site in terms of parking, layout, etc. but my bet is that this event will end up at Dump National-Los Angeles. (Trump)

I think I better take that bet to Vegas ASAP!
this screams trump.....
02.14.2009 | Unregistered Commentersmails
The La Habra Post Card Company:

Or they could eat at Lalo's. The best Mexican restaurant in the world.
02.15.2009 | Unregistered CommenterJordan
Griffith Park...man, that brings back good memories...used to get out there early and play nine hole before work...they used to ride horses around the outside of the golf course...maybe they still do...loved that place.
02.15.2009 | Unregistered Commenterrb
I used to like seeing that event at Oakmont in Glendale.

Am not sure if the membership wanted to keep on losing the course for a couple weeks every year, though.
02.15.2009 | Unregistered CommenterClaude
How about San Clemente? Here is another one that could probably handle it somehow, someway. What a great place with great ocean views and it would fit the women's game perfectly.
02.15.2009 | Unregistered CommenterNose For The News
As a volunteer that worked the LAST LPGA event held in LA at Trump...I wouldn't hold my breath...

The players (most importantly, Annika) HATED Trump's gimmicky layout, and especially the crossover at the bottom of the hill on the changeover where they had to load onto carts, play two short holes, and get back on carts to get back out on the course...

Couple that with the crowd base that gets trapped near the clubhouse, and it was a logistical NIGHTMARE...

I think Geoff just might be onto something by suggesting Rustic....

Might I also humbly suggest North Ranch Country Club (27 holes) or Sherwood Country Club, venue to Tiger's Christmas Party and several other TV-friendly "shootouts"...

Malibu's layout isn't spectator friendly (too hilly to traverse easily), but I DO like the track....
02.16.2009 | Unregistered CommenterScott

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